HE EORGIAN EWSLETTER - Georgian WiccaGods of the dead were Gwynn ap Nudd for the British and Arawn...

~S PO T LI G H T

Moondancer(Herb)

After nagging and bothering this man for quite some

time, I guess he FINALY figured that if he didn’t do

this, I would NEVER shut the hell up and go away!

GNL- Where’s home?, where was you raised

Herb -Home will always be Carlsbad New Mexico, no matterwhere I may place my head - that's where my heart is. I livedthere for the first 14 years of my life, and while that was 42 yearsago... These days, I'm living in Western Washington state, wherewe've been since leaving Bakersfield in 1987. Our home is in thefoothills of the Cascade Mountains, not quite an hour out ofSeattle.

GNL-When did you "discover" Paganism and Wicca. Tell us alittle bit.

Herb -I was performing ceremonies to the Full Moon in ourbackyard from a very early age. When I was 10 I read GeraldGardner's Witchcraft Today and found a name for them. A fewyears later, I met the son of an Alexandrian couple and informallylearned "some stuff" through them, but it wasn't until college thatI found the Georgians and was initiated.

GNL-What tradition did you start in? if any?

Herb -Well, the Georgian tradition is what I was first formallytrained and initiated into, though honestly, I haven't practiced itfor a very long time. My practice is mainly within the NewEngland Covens of Traditionalist Witches (Lady Gwen's folk),which is what our coven is part of. I'm also a White Cord in theNew Reformed Orthodox order of the Golden Dawn (NROOGD)and a Gardnerian 1st degree initiate, though not practicing ineither of them - there are a few other initiations that I've taken aswell, but they aren't really relevant to this.

GNL-How long have you been a Georgian? Who damned you tothis trad? <g>

THE GEORGIAN NEWSLETTER

samhain 2009

What’s Inside:

Spotlight

Recipes & Helpful Hints

Musings from the readers

Announcements

Memoriam

The Origins of Halloween: by

Rowan Moonstone

Halloween Traditions

Georgian Elder Gathering

The Georgian Newsletter

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Herb -Beltane 1973 was the date of my 1st degree -- at the handsof Pat and Lady Aphrodite in the second coven -- and damning isstrangely appropriate, as every time I think I've managed toescape you people, someone drags me back screaming andkicking!

GNL-Children? (how many?), grandchildren?

Herb -Three daughters, one son-in-law. No grandchildren yet,and I won't count the one that's on its way until it hatches.

GNL-Describe your life a little these days, what great is going on?

Herb -I retired on medical disability in 1997 from the State ofWashington, and after a three year battle with social Securityhave been living the life of luxury that our federal governmentprovides for we drudges on society.(That's only partly a joke, son.) Life is doing pretty good thesedays.

GNL-Attended/Missed many Mt Meets?

Herb -Missed more than I attended...haven't been to one since1986, but have to admit that I preferred the site at PanoramaHeights over the current one...but that's just me. What I don't missare the idjits who surrounded us there one year where someoneput out a cigarette on a lady's back.

GNL-Have and hobbies or interests? Tell us a little aboutyourself.

Herb -My main hobby is genealogy, it's something I've beenworking on since the late 1960s. I still do some web design buthave largely let it go for now. I also write for The Witches'Almanac (although nothing in the upcoming issue) and am stilltoying with a book proposal I've been asked to write.

GNL-Any really good stories you fondly remember or shiver atthe thought of these days you might wanna share with us?

Herb -One of my favorite memories is the "first annual GeorgianPicnic in the Park" - photo attached of me and Lady Aphrodite.This was the summer after I was initiated and just before thatcoven broke up, something that happened a lot in the early daysof the tradition.And, of course, an obligatory "Pat story" - most of you shouldknow about the Magic Catalyst, yes? During one ritual, Patpoured the "poof powder" on to the burning charcoal, and it didn't

ignite. So he sticks his head over the lit container, sticks hisathamé into to and stirs it around, muttering "burn, damn you,burn!" Oh, it did...removed a good portion of his beard andeyebrows as well. That became a fire chant for a while.

It rates up there with the "short term consecration of an object"created by Bobbie one ritual, when after having blessed a fewdozen pieces of jewelry and other objects, had someone rush upwith something else to bless...whereupon the charm was "Blessfor now, bless for now..."

Announcements!It is always of the greatest pleasure that I get to putannouncements into the newsletter!

Dedication:~1st degree - I am happy to announce that Roger received his1st degree initiation tonight in the city where the GeorgianTradition was founded, Bakersfield. With Tony as High Priest,Emilie and Erin as joint hand-maidens, I was happy to be HighPriestess bringing this man I have known for 20 years into ourTradition. May the Gods preserve the Craft and may the Craftpreserve the Gods.

Blessed Be,Marla

Aquarian Moon Coven in OKC initiated Michelle and Donna 1stdegrees. Margie and Daniel Larson presided over the initiation asHPS and HP

Sarah Roberge a.k.a. Akantha, received her First Degree Initiationfrom the Circle of the Imbolc Moon into the Georgian Traditionon October 30, 2009

Rain, Priestess & Rob, Priest

~2nd degree - Lara of Aquarian Moon Coven received her 2ndon 11/1/09 at 5pm. Margie and Daniel Larson presided over theinitiation as HPS and HP

~3rd degree

Birthdays!Sibyl Shadowdrake - September 22, 1964.Fig - October 17th

Taran YoungOak - October 13th at 4:43amRaven Spirit - Oct 17 1970Indigo – October 28th

Lord Josh-wa-ah - 10-13-1949, 60 years YOUNG!

It should also be mentioned that they (Lady Kundalini andLord Josh-wa-ah) have been together 31 years as of the19th of this month!

WOW, I wasn’t even born way back then!


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Covens!!!!I am very pleased to announce that two covens have hived offfrom Silver Oak in Bradenton and seem to be flourishing, andhave picked up the slack (and the students) I left behind when Imoved. They are Silver Dragon Moon, led by Mirage ([email protected]), and Silver Circle, led by Lavender(or [email protected]). Both covens are in the Bradentonarea. I am very proud of both of them, and I know the Lady willbe with them as she was/is with me.

Hugs and blessings,Willa

HANDFASTING: On Nov 7, Duane "Raven" Marshall

And Nikki Ryan were handfasted by Lady Indigo andRev Shae Rightmire. CONGRATS TO ALL!!!

The Origins of Halloweencopyright © 1989, Rowan Moonstone

Submited by our very own Rowen Moonstone

In recent years, there have been a number of pamphlets and booksput out be various Christian organizations dealing with the originsof modern-day Halloween customs.

Being a Witch myself, and a student of the ancient Celts fromwhom we get this holiday, I have found these pamphlets woefullyinaccurate and poorly researched. A typical example of thisinformation is contained in the following quote from the pamphletentitled "What's Wrong with Halloween?" by Russell K. Tardo."The Druids believed that on October 31st, the last day of the yearby the ancient Celtic calendar, the lord of death gathered togetherthe souls of the dead who had been made to enter bodies ofanimals, and decided what forms they should take the followingyear. Cats were held sacred because it was believed that they wereonce human beings ... We see that this holiday has its origin, basisand root in the occultic Druid celebration of the dead. Only theycalled it 'Samhain', who was the Lord of the Dead (a bigdemon)".1 When these books and pamphlets cite sources at all,they usually list the Encyclopedia Britannica, EncyclopediaAmericana, and the World Book Encyclopedia. The Britannicaand the Americana make no mention of cats, but do indeed listSamhain as the Lord of Death, contrary to Celtic scholars, and listno references. The World Book mentions the cats and callsSamhain the Lord of Death, and lists as its sources severalchildren's books (hardly what one could consider scholarly texts,and, of course, themselves citing no references).

In an effort to correct some of this erroneous information, I haveresearched the religious life of the ancient Celtic peoples and thesurvivals of that religious life in modern times. Listed below aresome of the most commonly asked questions concerning theorigins and customs of Halloween. Following the questions is alengthy bibliography where the curious reader can go to learnmore about this holiday than space in this small pamphlet permits.

1. Where does Halloween come from?

Our modern celebration of Halloween is a descendent ofthe ancient Celtic festival called "Samhain". The word ispronounced "sow-in", with "sow" rhyming with "cow".

2. What does "Samhain" mean?

The "Irish-English Dictionary" published by the IrishTexts Society defines the word as follows: "Samhain,All Hallowtide, the feast of the dead in Pagan andChristian times, signalling the close of harvest and theinitiation of the winter season, lasting till May, during

which troops were quartered. Fairies were imagined asparticularly active at this season. From it, the half-year isreckoned. Also called Feile Moingfinne (SnowGoddess)."2 The "Scottish Gaelic Dictionary" defines itas "Hallowtide. The Feast of All Souls. Sam + Fuin =end of summer."3 Contrary to the information publishedby many organizations, there is no archaeological orliterary evidence to indicate that Samhain was a deity.Eliade's "Encyclopedia of Religion" states as follows:"The Eve and day of Samhain were characterized as atime when the barriers between the human andsupernatural worlds were broken... Not a festivalhonoring any particular Celtic deity, Samhainacknowledged the entire spectrum of nonhuman forcesthat roamed the earth during that period."4 The CelticGods of the dead were Gwynn ap Nudd for the Britishand Arawn for the Welsh. The Irish did not have a "Lordof Death" as such.

3. Why was the end of summer of significance to the Celts?

The Celts were a pastoral people as opposed to anagricultural people. The end of summer was significantto them because it meant the time of year when thestructure of their lives changed radically. The cattle werebrought down from the summer pastures in the hills andthe people were gathered into the houses for the longwinter nights of story-telling and handicrafts.

4. What does it have to do with a festival of the dead?

The Celts believed that when people died, they went to aland of eternal youth and happiness called Tír na nOg.They did not have the concept of Heaven and Hell thatthe Christian Church later brought into the land. The


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dead were sometimes believed to be dwelling with theFairy Folk, who lived in the numerous mounds, or sidhe,(pronounced "shee" or "sh-thee") that dotted the Irishand Scottish countryside. Samhain was the new year tothe Celts. In the Celtic belief system, turning points suchas the time between one day and the next, the meeting ofsea and shore or the turning of one year into the next,were seen as magickal times. The turning of the yearwas the most potent of these times. This was the timewhen the "veil between the worlds" was at its thinnestand the living could communicate with their beloveddead in Tír na nOg.

5. What about the aspects of "evil" that we associate withthe night today?

The Celts did not have demons and devils in their beliefsystem. The fairies, however, were often consideredhostile and dangerous to humans because they were seenas being resentful of man taking over their land. On thisnight, they would sometimes trick humans intobecoming lost in the fairy mounds where they would betrapped forever. After the coming of the Christians to theCeltic lands, certain of the folk saw the fairies as thoseangels who had sided neither with God or with Luciferin their dispute and thus were condemned to walk theEarth until Judgment Day.5 In addition to the fairies,many humans were abroad on this night causingmischief. Since this night belonged neither to one yearor the other, Celtic folk believed that chaos reigned andthe people would engage in "horseplay and practicaljokes".6 This also served as a final outlet for high spiritsbefore the gloom of winter set in.

6. What about "trick or treat"?

During the course of these hijinks, many of the peoplewould imitate the fairies and go from house to housebegging for treats. Failure to supply the treats wouldusually result in practical jokes being visited on theowner of the house. Since the fairies were abroad on thisnight, an offering of food or milk was frequently left forthem on the steps of the house so the homeowner couldgain the blessing of the "good folk" for the coming year.Many of the households would also leave out a "dumbsupper" for the spirits of the departed.7 The folks whowere abroad in the night imitating the fairies wouldsometimes carry turnips carved to represent faces. Thisis the origin of our modern Jack-o-lantern.

7. Was there any special significance of cats to the Celts?

According to Katherine Briggs in "Nine Lives: Cats inFolklore", the Celts associated cats with the CailleachBheur, or Blue Hag of Winter. "She was a naturegoddess, who herded the deer as her cattle. The touch ofher staff drove the leaves off the trees and brought snowand harsh weather."8 Dr. Anne Ross addresses the use ofdivine animals in her book "Pagan Celtic Britain" andhas this to say about cats: "Cats do not play a large role

in Celtic mythology ... the evidence for the cat as animportant cult animal in Celtic mythology is slight".9

She cites as supporting evidence the lack ofarchaeological artifacts and literary references insurviving works of mythology.

8. Was this also a religious festival?

Yes. Celtic religion was very closely tied to the Earth.The great legends are concerned with momentoushappenings which took place around the time ofSamhain. Many of the great battles and legends of kingsand heroes center on this night. Many of the legendsconcern the promotion of fertility of the Earth and theinsurance of the continuance of the lives of the peoplethrough the dark winter season.

9. How was the religious festival observed?

Unfortunately, we know very little about that. W.G.Wood-Martin, in his book "Traces of the Elder Faiths ofIreland", states: "There is comparatively little trace ofthe religion of the Druids now discoverable, save in thefolklore of the peasantry and the references relative to itthat occur in ancient and authentic Irish manuscripts are,as far as present appearances go, meager and insufficientto support anything like a sound theory for fulldevelopment of the ancient religion."10 The Druids werethe priests of the Celtic peoples. They passed on theirteachings by oral tradition instead of committing them towriting, so when they perished, most of their religiousteachings were lost. We do know that this festival wascharacterized as one of the four great "Fire Festivals" ofthe Celts. Legends tell us that on this night all the hearthfires in Ireland were extinguished and then re-lit fromthe central fire of the Druids at Tlachtga, 12 miles fromthe royal hill of Tara. This fire was kindled from "needfire" which had been generated by the friction of rubbingtwo sticks together, as opposed to more conventionalmethods (such as the flint-and-steel method) common inthose days.11 The extinguishing of the fires symbolizedthe "dark half" of the year, and the re-kindling from theDruidic fires was symbolic of the returning life hopedfor and brought about through the ministrations of thepriesthood.

10. What about sacrifices?

Animals were certainly killed at this time of year. Thiswas the time to "cull" from the herds those animalswhich were not desired for breeding purposes for thenext year. Most certainly, some of these would havebeen done in a ritual manner for the use of thepriesthood.

11. Were humans sacrificed?

Scholars are sharply divided on this account, with abouthalf believing that it took place and half doubting its


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veracity. Caesar and Tacitus certainly tell tales of thehuman sacrifices of the Celts, but Nora Chadwick pointsout in her book "The Celts" that "it is not withoutinterest that the Romans themselves had abolishedhuman sacrifice not long before Caesar's time, andreferences to the practice among various barbarianpeoples have certain overtones of self-righteousness.There is little direct archaeological evidence relevant toCeltic sacrifice."12 Indeed, there is little reference to thispractice in Celtic literature. The only surviving storyechoes the tale of the Minotaur in Greek legend: theFomorians, a race of evil giants said to inhabit portionsof Ireland before the coming of the Tuatha Dé Danann(or "people of the Goddess Danu"), demanded thesacrifice of 2/3 of the corn, milk and first-born childrenof the Fir Bolg, or human inhabitants of Ireland. TheTuatha Dé Danann ended this practice in the secondbattle of Moy Tura, which incidentally, took place onSamhain. It should be noted, however, that this storyappears in only one (relatively modern) manuscript fromIrish literature, and that manuscript, the "Dinnsenchus",is known to be a collection of fables. According to P.W.Joyce in Vol. 2 of his "Social History of AncientIreland", "Scattered everywhere through our ancientliterature, both secular and ecclesiastical, we findabundant descriptions and details of the rites andsuperstitions of the pagan Irish; and in no place -- withthis single exception -- do we find a word or hintpointing to human sacrifice to pagan gods or idols."13

12. What other practices were associated with this season?

Folk tradition tells us of many divination practicesassociated with Samhain. Among the most commonwere divinations dealing with marriage, weather and thecoming fortunes for the year. These were performed viasuch methods as ducking for apples and apple peeling.Ducking for apples was a marriage divination. The firstperson to bite an apple would be the first to marry in thecoming year. Apple peeling was a divination to see howlong your life would be. The longer the unbroken applepeel, the longer your life was destined to be.14 InScotland, people would place stones in the ashes of thehearth before retiring for the night. Anyone whose stonehad been disturbed during the night was said to bedestined to die during the coming year.

13. How did these ancient Celtic practices come to America?

When the potato crop in Ireland failed, many of the Irishpeople, modern descendants of the Celts, emigrated toAmerica bringing with them their folk practices whichwere remnants of the Celtic festival observances.

14. We in America view this as a harvest festival. Did theCelts also view it as such?

Yes. The Celts had 3 harvests. Aug 1, or Lammas, wasthe first harvest, when the first fruits were offered to theGods in thanks. The Fall Equinox was the true harvest.

This was when the bulk of the crops would be broughtin. Samhain was the final harvest of the year. Anythingleft on the vines or in the fields after this date wasconsidered blasted by the fairies ("pu'ka") and unfit forhuman consumption.

15. Does anyone today celebrate Samhain as a religiousobservance?

Yes. Many followers of various pagan religions, such asDruidism and Wicca, observe this day as a religiousfestival. They view it as a memorial day for their deadfriends and family, much as the mainstream US does thenational Memorial Day holiday in May. It is still a nightto practice various forms of divination concerning futureevents. It is also considered a time to wrap up oldprojects, take stock of one's life and initiate new projectsfor the coming year. As the winter season isapproaching, it is a good time to do studying on researchprojects, and also a good time to begin handwork suchas sewing, leatherworking, woodworking etc., for Yulegifts later in the year. And while "satanists" are usingthis holiday as their own, this is certainly not the onlyexample of a holiday (or even religious symbols) being"borrowed" from an older religion by a newer one.

16. Does this involve human or animal sacrifice?

Absolutely NOT! Hollywood to the contrary, bloodsacrifice is not practiced by modern followers of Wiccaor Druidism. There may be some people who think theyare practicing Wicca by performing blood sacrificing butthis is not condoned by reputable practitioners of today'sneo-Pagan religions.

FOOTNOTES:

1. Tardo, Russell K., "What's Wrong with Halloween?",Faithful Word Publishers, (Arabi, LA, undated), p. 2

2. Rev. Patrick Dinneen, "An Irish-English Dictionary",(Dublin, 1927), p. 937

3. Malcolm MacLennan, "A Pronouncing andEtymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language",(Aberdeen, 1979), p. 279

4. "The Encyclopedia of Religion", ed. Mircea Eliade,"Halloween" by Primiano, (New York, 1987) pp. 176-177

5. Alwyn & Brinley Rees, "Celtic Heritage", (New York,1961), p. 90

6. W.G. Wood-Martin, "Traces of the Elder Faiths ofIreland", Vol. II, (Port Washington, NY, 1902), p. 5

7. Kevin Danaher, "The Year in Ireland", (Cork, 1972), p.214

8. Katherine Briggs, "Nine Lives: Cats in Folklore",(London,1980), p.5

9. Dr. Anne Ross, "Pagan Celtic Britain", (London,1967),p. 301-302

10. Wood-Martin, op. cit., p. 24911. Rees & Rees, op. cit., p. 90


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12. Nora Chadwick, "The Celts", (Harmondsworth, 1982), p.151

13. P.W. Joyce, "A Social History of Ancient Ireland",Vol.2, (New York, 1968), pp. 282-283

14. Madeleine Pelner Cosman, "Medieval Holidays andFestivals", (New York, 1981), p. 81

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Bord, Janet & Colin, "The Secret Country", (London:Paladin Books, 1978)

Briggs, Katherine, "Nine Lives, Cats in Folklore",(London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1980)

Chadwick, Nora, "The Celts", (Harmondsworth,England: Penguin Books, 1982)

Coglan, Ronan, "A Dictionary of Irish Myth andLegend", (Dublin: 1979)

Cosman, Madeleine Pelner, "Medieval Holidays andFestivals", (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1981)

Danaher, Kevin, "The Year in Ireland", (Cork, Ireland:The Mercier Press, 1972)

Dinneen, Rev. Patrick S., M.A., "An Irish-EnglishDictionary", (Dublin: The Irish Texts Society, 1927)

Joyce, P.W., "A Social History of Ancient Ireland",(New York: Benjamin Blom, 1968)

MacCana, Proinsias, "Celtic Mythology", (London: TheHamlyn Publishing Group Limited, 1970)

MacLennan, Malcolm, "A pronouncing andEtymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language",(Aberdeen: Acair and Aberdeen University Press, 1979)

MacNeill, Maire', "The Festival of Lughnasa", (Dublin:Comhairle Bhealoideas Eireann, 1982)

Powell, T.G.E., "The Celts", (New York: Thames &Hudson, 1980)

Primiano, Leonard Norman, "Halloween" from "TheEncyclopedia of Religion", ed. Mircea Eliade, (NewYork, McMillan Publiching Co., 1987)

Rees, Alwyn and Brinley, "Celtic Heritage, AncientTradition in Ireland and Wales", (New York: Thames &Hudson, 1961)

Ross, Dr. Anne, "Pagan Celtic Britain", (London:Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1967)

Sharkey, John, "Celtic Mysteries", (New York: Thames& Hudson, 1975)

Spence, Lewis, "British Fairy Origins",(Wellingborough: Aquarian Press, 1946)

Squire, Charles, "Celtic Myth & Legend, Poetry &Romance", (New York: Newcastle Publishing Co., Inc.,1975)

Toulson, Shirley, "The Winter Solstice", (London: JillNorman & Hobhouse, Ltd., 1981)

Wood-Martin, W.G., "Traces of the Elder Faiths ofIreland", Vols. I & II, (Port Washington, NY: KennikatPress, 1902)

Samhain Pork Roast1 pork loinmushroomsonionsgarlicbread crumbssageparsleyrosemarysaltpepper1 eggTake a very sharp knife and begin cutting the roast, a sliceabout one inch think, but don't cut through. Keep cuttingand unrolling the roast until you have one, continuous slice.Spread a thick layer of the stuffing on the slice and,carefully, roll it back up. Tie it shut with butcher's twineand lay in a roasting pan and cover with foil. Roast on 350degrees for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.For the stuffing, figure the amounts according to the size of

the roast. You want enough to be able to spread over theentire unrolled loin. Dried herbs are okay, but fresh offers amuch fuller flavor. I use whatever mushrooms I can get,usually white mushrooms, tree ears, shitake, but porcini areokay if you want to go to the trouble of peeling the toughskin off the tops. With the onions, try to use yellowmushrooms, they are at their fullest flavor right now. Usethe entire garlic, if you want, it won't hurt and it's good foryou.Chop everything very finely and mix together in a bowlwith a tiny bit of water if you need a little more moisture tomake a paste-like spread, but not much, you don't want it toquirt out of the roast.

Submitted by Cindy and her spiderpigs in 2008


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And, let us not forget those that went before us.

On this sacred night of Samhain, a time when we

remember our passed Loved ones, Ancestors and

not to be forgotten, our family members that often

was there when no others were, who accepted us for

who we are regardless of who we are, our family and

friends of the animal kingdom.

October 24th - Author of Animal Speak and 41 otherbooks, Ted Andrews crossed over on Saturday.

Elder Gathering

So, as many of you know, the weekend of October 24th

the Georgian Eldersgot together! Marlaheaded up thisshindig andmanaged to pull inRayna, Cindy andLoye to help pullthis gathering off.We checked to see ifthe hotel had metal detector to place outside the doorsof the conference room, but no good….so we resortedto frisking for athames, basic easily smuggled witchtools. Some of us arrived the 22, most the 23. AsJamie and I pulled up to the hotel we were greeted byMarla, Roger and Star. Later I ran into Dorothy as Iwas heading out to pick up one of my flock(Kerredwyn), and then Puck. Later that evening we allmet in the lobby to decide where we were going to goeat. The Hungry Hunter was right there, so we dividedinto two groups and headed over. Sherri and Cindyjoined Marla and her group while I lead my group overa little later.

Marla’s group consisted of Marla, Tony, Erin, Roger,Puck, Cindy, Star, Sherri, Dorothy and Emilie. Mygroup consisted of Myself, Kate, Kerredwyn, Peggy,Jamie, Robert, Darlene, Rosewynd and Peggy’snephew Jeremy. Needless to say, we were seated indifferent areas of the restaurant . Later that eveningof the 23rd, Marla and her group retired to one of therooms at around 7ish pm to perform the 1st Degreeinitiation of Roger, Marla’s long time student.


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After the initiation we all joined together in one of thesmaller conference rooms and celebrated Samhain.

The Oklahoma crew was beat by this time and it wasobvious they were struggling to stay awake. We madeno attempt to raise any serious energy, but did openthe gate and invite special guests to join us. I told thestory of the Green Hag, did cakes and ale, invited allGeorgians who had crossed over to remain for theentire Elder Gathering and then bid farewell toeveryone else and closed the gate. As soon as theritual was over, Marla and her batch vanished, headedfor a well deserved and needed sleep at 1130California time. When my group reached the lobby ofthe hotel, we were greeted by Rayna and Canu whohad just arrived, Marla was talking to her and wavedus over. We all hugged, and chatted for a few minutesthen everyone headed for their respective rooms for awell needed rest. The next morning, we all gathered at0900 after eating breakfast in the hotel. Marla, ourTask Mistress went about lighting the altar candles onthe Gathering altar situated inthe middle of the tables., thenintroductions and the ritualhanding out of coffee cupssent by Georgia which I wasallowed to hand out! And amdrinking coffee from mine as Iwrite this! (Thank youGeorgia!)

We spent the day debating and discussing lessons,newsletters, GBoS, coven practices. The Gatheringwas opened up to ALL Georgians who attended, fromthe Jamie (pre-Initiate) to Bobbie (Matriarch Elder)and everyone was allows to voice their thoughts.

Jamie was cute when Marla directed a question at herabout what she thought of the lessons and how they arelaid out.<grin>

Among other activities was the “field trips” that wastaken by some of those at the Gathering. What sortaFirst Annual Elders Gathering would it be if we didn’tgo to the home address of where it all started for usGeorgians?... that’s right, the place where GeorgeElliot Patterson resided and where we as a traditionstarted! This addresswould be the “Acorn”to our “Oak Tree”.That night we allgathered together forthe closing ritual.Rayna organized andlead the ritual with thetrue grace and command of a High Priestess! The altarwas set and decorated with Pat’s candle, cakes,pictures, beads, string and love. Rayna asked forvolunteers to call the quarters, invite the Lady andLord. East was called by Star, South by Puck, West by

Kate, North byEmilie, The Ladywas invited by Marlaand I “volunteered”to invite the Lord.After the ritual ascuffle broke outbetween Marla andCanu..it involved two

statues, boobs and other stuff. It looked like Marlawas going to win, but Canu’s height and reachovercame Marla’s special High Priestess powers.


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The picture isblurry and I won’ttell you how itended (3rd DegreeSecret and all thatjazz you know)but it WASentertaining!!

Oh, here are the statues inquestion…I really didwanna be them statues!I made em for Marla, butCanu “presented” them toher <grin>

I could easily do a whole newsletter, complete withpictures and information on the happenings of theGathering, but there was so much to put in this editionof the Samhain Newsletter I had to whittle it down andabbreviate it. Look for more information on thehappenings of the Georgian Elder Gathering in thenext Newsletter!

From all of us! To all of you! We wish you a veryhappy Celtic new year, blessed Samhain and SALUTEeach and every one of you (with a little on the side)!

And Bobbie SALUTES youstraight up with nothing on theside!

Blessings and LightLoye

SAMHAIN and HALLOWEENCostumes and Traditions

So, every year we all sit down and celebrate thisseason in our own way. Some set a plate for the dumbsupper, others place food out on the porch or windowsill, the ever popular pumpkin carving, and dressing upin an attempt to be funny, scary, sexy, whatever.

For me, it was a little morespecial. I was “informed”recently that a good friendsdaughter had decided that I washer two little ones Grandpa. Theoldest turning 3 in January. So,

little Gabriel and babysister Margaret Tiffanyshowed up at noon onHalloween.

He climbed into Grandpa’s lapand we carved his very firstJack-O-Lantern. Then, the threeof us sat down and watchedCharlie Browns

“Great Pumpkin” I hadn’t hadthat much fun since my ownchildren were little. It wasindeed a special day for me,getting to continue a familytradition that has spannedseveral generations.


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The Dumb supper isalso a very (believeit or not) commontradition. We did itfor years when Iwas growing up andwe was “good”Christians!Here we have aplace setting at thehousehold of Roberson-Teague. Very beautiful Marla andGypsy

And what would pictures be without dress up! We will gofrom cute to therapy inducing here

Here we have little KatlynEvelyn Ray, she is sportina tiger costume!

(momma is Macie)

And here we have littleJesslyn Rea Barnett…I’m tounderstand she wasn’t“diggin” the hood for her littleelephant costume lol (mommais Nichole)

Both of these little ones are thegrandchildren of Peggy andJeff Ray, members of covenSymbollic. (Peggy and Jamieprovided the pics)

I love seeing the little ones alldressed up, brings joy to me and keeps me young!

And how canwe forget ourmost wellknow memberof theGeorgianfamily!! Herewe haveDorothyMorrisonherself!

And last but notleast, Yours truly!The walk way wasscary and thrilling,skulls lined thefence, bones andgrave yard, lights,spider webs andspooky town tosee.. But in theend, I was waitingfor them…bubbling cauldron, black robes and demon faced,holding a large bowl of candy! Many little ones had to bedragged to me by their parents andgrandparents, screaming all the way“NOOOOO! I don’t want any morecandy!!!, you said I was ADD!!!”

On a couple occasionsI had to take my maskoff for the real littleones <grin>

Well, I think that concludes this edition of the GeorgianNewsletter.

Blessings and Light, Loye

HE EORGIAN EWSLETTER - Georgian WiccaGods of the dead were Gwynn ap Nudd for the British and Arawn...

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